DVD commentaries: Most informative and most entertaining?

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by lasvidfil, Feb 14, 2008.

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  1. stepeanut

    stepeanut The gloves are off

    Another vote for This Is Spinal Tap as the most entertaining of commentaries.

    Stephen Prince's commentary for the Criterion DVD of Straw Dogs is scholarly and detailed, offering a fresh perspective on this much-misunderstood film. Most commentary tracks are fluff, but this one from Prince is essential listening for anyone with the slightest interest in the picture, or film analysis in general. It's a real loss that Prince's commentary has not been ported over to either of the available Blu-ray editions of Straw Dogs.
     
  2. john greenwood

    john greenwood Senior Member

    Location:
    NYC
    According to the original Playbill it was his song.

    (I looked this up, because I knew Pat Birch choreographed the original production.)

    http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/Whos_who/2031/36369/Grease
     
  3. daglesj

    daglesj Forum Resident

    Location:
    Norfolk, UK
    Dodgeball - Well the first 30 minutes or so is funny...A commentary track I'm sure how many actors asked to do them would do it (Well no one listens to this crap anyway).

    Brass Eye - Chris Morris invites a load of homeless drunks into the studio with the promise of much extra strong lager, runs the video of the shows and just tapes the reaction.
     
    johnnyyen likes this.
  4. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    I think it was the alternate title "Born to Hand Job" that TheLazenby believed was incorrect, not the identity of its performer...
     
    Drifter likes this.
  5. clhboa

    clhboa Forum Resident

    Rodney Bingenheimer's and Chris Carter's commentary on "The Mayor Of The Sunset Strip" dvd. Helps clear up a few things brought up in the documentary.
     
  6. john greenwood

    john greenwood Senior Member

    Location:
    NYC
    :hide:
     
  7. TheLazenby

    TheLazenby Forum Resident In Memoriam

    Location:
    Pittsburgh
    Then there's "Step Brothers" - which, as far as I know, was the first to turn the commentary into a full-fledged musical. (Yes, folks, "Dr. Horrible" - which was released a month or so later - was NOT the first!)
     
  8. mep

    mep Forum Resident

    Location:
    Germany
    Today I watched Joss Whedons commentary track for Hush. It´s easily one of the most conscious and comprehensive tracks I have ever seen. Both for aspects of the pure art of the show and the vile production viewpoint. Amazing!
     
    DeeThomaz likes this.
  9. Django

    Django Forum Resident

    Location:
    Dublin, Ireland
    Noel Gallagher's Oasis video commentary

     
  10. I'm not an Oasis fan and if I didn't know any better I'd say Noel isn't either. :laugh: Hilarious commentary though.
     
    troyvod likes this.
  11. aussievinyl

    aussievinyl Appreciator Of Creative Expression

    No one seems to have mentioned the original Criterion DVD of 'The Silence of the Lambs' commentary which has Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, director Jonathan Demme, screenwriter Ted Tally and the FBI profiler John Douglas on it. That's a great listen. Sadly, there are no subtitles on that DVD, as per their earliest releases, like THIS IS SPINAL TAP.
     
  12. Don't get me started on those Simpsons commentaries that are just Conan lovefests. They sound like such suck-ups.
     
    fr in sc likes this.
  13. Django

    Django Forum Resident

    Location:
    Dublin, Ireland
    Here's some hilarious Bish bosh wallop, guvnor...

     
  14. Myke

    Myke Trying Not To Spook The Horse

    Riot In Cell Block 11 - The Criterion Collection

    " Commentary - film scholar Matthew H. Bernstein discusses the production history of Riot in Cell Block 11, the visual style of the film and the narrative's unique qualities that separated it from other similarly themed films produced before 1954, the initial reviews for the film, etc. Indeed, this is a wonderful commentary with plenty of excellent information that makes it extremely easy to appreciate Don Siegel and writer Richard Collins' vision. It was recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2014. "

    http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Riot-in-Cell-Block-11-Blu-ray/94586/#Review
     
  15. Uncle Meat

    Uncle Meat Forum Resident

    Location:
    Houston, Tx, US
    Great thread..
     
  16. Mister Charlie

    Mister Charlie "Music Is The Doctor Of My Soul " - Doobie Bros.

    Location:
    Aromas, CA USA
    Mike Nesmith always told fun, rambling stories. Mickey was useless.
     
  17. nbakid2000

    nbakid2000 On Indie's Cutting Edge

    Location:
    Springfield, MO
    Kevin Smith does commentary tracks for various films, specifically Batman:

     
  18. Karnak

    Karnak "81, 82, 83, 84..."

    Really liked the entertaining DVD commentary on The Wolfman(1941) by Tom Weaver. It seemed a little irreverent at times but probably was just the rapid-fire way it was delivered. Not sure if the BR has the same.
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2014
  19. dustybooks

    dustybooks rabbit advocate

    Location:
    Wilmington, NC
    I got the Criterion Paths of Glory this week (finally) and very much enjoyed the Gary Giddins commentary. Aside from the cast/crew bitchery all over Spartacus, I think it's the only worthwhile commentary I've heard to a Kubrick film.
     
  20. shoestring

    shoestring Well-Known Member

    I personally love Micky Dolenz's commentary on "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee" on the Season 2 DVD.
     
    Grand_Ennui likes this.
  21. mep

    mep Forum Resident

    Location:
    Germany
    Dr. Horrible´s Sing Along Blog features the first and maybe only Commentary Track as a musical! Amazing and funfunfun!!!!
     
  22. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    It does - and I agree that it's a fun/informative chat!
     
    Karnak likes this.
  23. Karnak

    Karnak "81, 82, 83, 84..."

    I read that Weaver does the commentary for 'The Creature From The Black Lagoon' too. I look forward to hearing that one :)
     
  24. Rocker

    Rocker Senior Member

    Location:
    Ontario, Canada
    I agree, they are quite enjoyable.... I've listened to every commentary (some more than once!) on all 17 seasons that have been released on DVD so far.

    Just finished season 17 yesterday, actually... one comment that I found particularly amusing (just because I agree with it so adamantly) was Al Jean saying that he thinks "sports talk radio is just so insufferable..... they go on for hours and hours based on nothing!" ;)
     
    Last edited: Jan 8, 2015
    goodiesguy likes this.
  25. clhboa

    clhboa Forum Resident

    I don't usually listen to commentaries. The one exception is the one for the documentary "The Mayor Of The Sunset Strip". Rodney Bingenheimer and Chris Carter really help clarify and flesh out the movie.
     
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